Board game

ABSTRACT

A board game can be played by persons of all ages, with minimal training. The board includes a set of coded spaces, and a set of home bases, each home base having indicia which correspond to the various coded spaces. Each home base is associated with a different player or team. The players or teams accumulate or lose game pieces, based on instructions received according to operation of a spinner. The first player or team to place game pieces on all of the spaces, belonging to that player or team, wins the game. The game allows players to develop intricate strategies for allocating and positioning game pieces. Also, players or teams may agree to become allies, enabling the game strategy to become as complex as desired.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention is a board game that provides entertainmentand challenge for a plurality of players, or for teams of players.

[0002] Various games have been developed which involve movement of gamepieces along a board. Some such games, for example the game of checkers,involve undifferentiated pieces that are moved according to specificrules. The game of chess is a board game in which there are a number ofdifferent kinds of pieces, and in which game strategies can become verycomplex. Other board games involve a central theme, for example, thebuying and selling of real estate in the game of “Monopoly”.

[0003] The present invention provides a board game which can be playedand enjoyed by both adults and children. The game of the presentinvention can be made more complex by playing it in teams, and bydeveloping specific strategies for winning. The game of the presentinvention can be played in a regular or an advanced version, theadvanced version including differentiated game pieces and more complexstrategy. The regular version is sufficiently simple that it can bequickly learned by very young children.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] The game of the present invention is played on a board which hasa plurality of coded spaces. The coded spaces may have color codes,letters, numbers, distinctive patterns, or other indicia thatdifferentiate the spaces from each other. There are preferably fourdistinct codes, corresponding to the preferred number of players (orteams). The board also includes a plurality of home bases, each of thehome bases having a code corresponding to one of the codes used on thespaces on the board.

[0005] In a regular version, the game apparatus also includes aplurality of substantially identical game pieces. In an advancedversion, the game pieces bear indicia corresponding to the codesassociated with the home bases and coded spaces.

[0006] In playing the regular version of the game, each player (or team)is assigned to a home base, and is therefore also associated with thecorresponding set of coded spaces on the board. The object of the gameis to be the first player to place a game piece on all of one's codedspaces on the board.

[0007] The game is played with a spinner, or an equivalent device thatgenerates random outcomes. The spinner can point to any one of fivepossible outcomes, each outcome being associated with a differentinstruction. A first instruction comprises requiring a player to take agame piece from the player's home base, and to place the game piece on acoded space belonging to that player. A second instruction comprisesrequiring a player to remove a game piece from one of that player'scoded spaces, and to place the game piece in that player's home base. Athird instruction comprises requiring a player to take a game piece froma coded space belonging to another player, or from a home base ofanother player, and to place the game piece on a coded space belongingto the first player. A fourth instruction comprises requiring a playerto remove a game piece from a coded space belonging to the player, orfrom that player's home base, and to give the game piece to anotherplayer by placing the game piece on a coded space belonging to the otherplayer. A fifth instruction comprises requiring a player to choose fromany of the instructions listed above, and to follow that instruction.

[0008] In the advanced version, the game is played in a generallysimilar manner, except that some of the instructions are changed. Amongthe major differences between the advanced and regular versions is thatin the advanced version, a player may, when he or she obtains thenecessary instruction, place one of his or her game pieces on the codedspace of another player, so as to block the other player from using thatcoded space. Also, in the advanced version, to win the game, it isnecessary for the player to fill his or her own coded spaces only withhis or her own game pieces.

[0009] By following the instructions set forth in either version of thegame, the players can accumulate game pieces, and place them on theirspaces on the board, applying strategies to maximize the chance ofwinning.

[0010] In one variation of both the regular and advanced versions of thegame, the winner is the first player to place game pieces on all of hisor her spaces on the board. In a shortened version, the winner is theplayer having the most pieces on the board at the end of a predeterminedtime.

[0011] The game of the present invention can easily be played byindividual players, or by teams of players. By prearrangement, someplayers or teams may agree to cooperate with other players or teams,thereby enhancing the complexity of the strategy used in the game.

[0012] The present invention therefore has the object of providing aboard game.

[0013] The invention has the further object of providing a gameinvolving the placement of differentiated or undifferentiated gamepieces on a board having a plurality of coded spaces.

[0014] The invention has the further object of providing a game whichincludes an element of chance, as well as requiring a degree of skill.

[0015] The invention has the further object of providing an entertaininggame which can be quickly learned and enjoyed by persons of virtuallyall ages.

[0016] The reader skilled in the art will recognize other objects andadvantages of the present invention, from the following briefdescription of the drawings, the detailed description of the invention,and the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017]FIG. 1 provides a plan view of the board used to play the game ofthe present invention.

[0018]FIG. 2 provides a view similar to that of FIG. 1, but showing thearrangement of game pieces at the start of the game.

[0019]FIG. 3 provides a view similar to that of FIG. 2, but showing asituation in which the game has advanced beyond the point shown in FIG.2, wherein some game pieces are placed on coded spaces on the board.

[0020]FIG. 4 provides a view similar to that of the previous figures,but showing a theoretical arrangement of game pieces in which one playerhas won the game.

[0021]FIG. 5 provides a view of the game board, together with the gamepieces, and showing the game pieces having codes which correspond tothose of each player.

[0022]FIG. 6 provides a plan view of a spinner used in playing the gameof the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0023] The game of the present invention is preferably played on gameboard 1 shown in the plan view of FIG. 1. In the preferred embodiment,the game board has a square shape, and includes four home bases 2, 3, 4,5 located at the four corners of the board. Each home base has a uniquecode, which may be a pattern, a color, a letter, a number, anycombination of the foregoing, or any other indicia for distinguishingone home base from another. In the embodiment shown, the four home baseshave different patterns. Each code is associated with a player (or teamof players). For example, if the codes comprise colors, the players mayidentify themselves using the colors of their home bases (i.e. “red”player, “blue” player, etc.). But the invention is not limited by thetype of code used.

[0024] Between pairs of home bases, the board includes a plurality ofspaces bearing codes which correspond to those of the home bases. Moreparticularly, in the embodiment shown, between each pair of home bases,there are sixteen spaces, four spaces associated with each code. Thecoded spaces are themselves associated with players (or teams) havingthe particular code. The board as a whole thus comprises, in theembodiment shown, a total of 64 spaces, 16 spaces associated with eachplayer or team.

[0025] Although the preferred embodiment comprises a board having 64pieces, for 64 game pieces, the game can be played with other numbers ofgame pieces and/or coded spaces. The explanation below will be made interms of the preferred embodiment, but it should be understood that theinvention is not limited to a specific number of game pieces or codedspaces.

[0026] The center area of the board comprises a square which can be usedto store the spinner described below.

[0027] The invention is not limited by the specific arrangement of theboard as described above. As will be apparent from the followingdescription, the home bases, and the coded spaces, can be arranged inmany other ways, as long as each player can distinguish his or herspaces and home base from those of another player. The board is notlimited to a square shape, but could be a circle, a hexagon, or anyother shape. The central region also need not be a square. The spinner,to be described below, could be placed elsewhere, at a location removedfrom the board.

[0028] In the preferred embodiment, there are four home bases becausethe game is preferably played by four players, or four teams of players.In general, there should be at least two players, or teams of players,and not more than four players, or four teams of players.

[0029] The game apparatus also includes spinner 20 shown in FIG. 6. Thespinner includes rotatable arrow 22 which can point to any of aplurality of elements disposed around an annulus. These elementscomprise distinct indicia, as illustrated by elements 23, 24, 25, and26. The latter elements are repeated various times around the annulus.The indicia may be patterns, colors, letters, numbers, combinations ofthe above, or any other codes.

[0030] Elements 27 are black, and are designated as “wild” spaces. Thesignificance of each element can be explained on a card (not shown) thatmay be displayed near the spinner. The details of the instructionsassociated with each of the indicia are explained below.

[0031] It is possible to use, on the spinner, the same indicia used ascodes for the spaces on the game board, as shown in FIGS. 1-5, so as touse fewer total colors or patterns. But in the latter case, great caremust be taken to distinguish the purpose of the indicia on the boardfrom the indicia on the spinner. In general, the indicia on the boardwill identify a player (or team), and distinguish that player (or team)from the others. The indicia on the spinner will identify a particularinstruction which a player receives upon operating the spinner. Thus,the indicia on the board have an entirely different function from theindicia on the spinner.

[0032] The spinner can be replaced by any other device that generatesrandom outcomes. For example, the spinner could be replaced by dice,cards, or any other device from which a plurality of random outcomes canbe obtained. All such alternatives are within the scope of the presentinvention.

[0033] The game apparatus also comprises a plurality of game pieces.Game pieces are shown in FIGS. 2-5, and may comprise any token, or otherobject, which can fit within one of the coded spaces on the board. Moredetails of the game pieces will be described below.

[0034] There are two principal versions of the present game, a regularversion and an advanced version. In the regular version, the game piecesare all undifferentiated. As shown in FIG. 2, for example, all of thegame pieces 10 are identical. In the advanced version, the game piecesare coded to correspond with the identification of a player. FIG. 5shows a game board with game pieces that bear the codes of the variousplayers. For example, note that, in FIG. 5, game piece 30 has adifferent pattern from game piece 31.

[0035] The game apparatus may be supplied with two complete sets of gamepieces, one set being undifferentiated, and the other set being codedaccording to the various players. In the preferred embodiment, however,the game apparatus includes only 64 game pieces, the game piecescomprising generally flat chips that are coded to correspond to the homebases and coded spaces on the board. The apparatus, in this preferredembodiment, also includes 64 identical stickers which can each be placedon one side of the chips. In a preferred embodiment, the stickers couldbe white, but any other color could be used. In playing the regularversion, one handles each chip such that the side with the sticker isalways facing up, thereby effectively creating 64 undifferentiated gamepieces. In playing the advanced version, the chips are arranged with theside having the sticker facing down, so that the patterns on the gamepieces are visible, and so that each game piece is readily identifiedwith only one player or team.

[0036] It is preferred that the game pieces be flat chips, so that theymay be stacked, to reduce the amount of space they occupy. But the gamepieces may take other forms, and need not be stackable. For example, thegame could be played with pawns similar to those used in the games ofParcheesi or chess.

[0037] The regular version of the game is played as follows.

[0038] For purposes of the following explanation, assume that eachplayer comprises one person, i.e. the number of members of each team isone.

[0039] The object of the regular version of the game is to be the firstplayer to place game pieces on all of the player's spaces on the board.Note that, since the game pieces are undifferentiated, the player mayplace any game pieces on his or her spaces.

[0040] First, each player selects the indicia (whether color, pattern,number, or other identifying symbol) to be associated with that player.The players then assume their positions around the board, each playersitting near the home base associated with that player.

[0041] Each player is then given 16 game pieces. As noted above, all ofthe game pieces, in the regular version of the game, are substantiallyidentical. The players place their pieces on their respective homebases, and the board then appears as shown in FIG. 2.

[0042] The players then proceed to operate the spinner, shown in FIG. 6,to determine who will start. By prior agreement, the players associatethemselves with different patterns indicated by the spinner, and it canbe agreed that the person who receives a certain pattern, by operatingthe spinner, will be the first to play. The play may proceed clockwise,or counterclockwise, following the player selected to play first, or itmay proceed according to an order determined by further spins of thespinner. Other means of determining the order in which the players taketheir turns can be used, within the scope of the invention.

[0043] The size of the spinner can be varied, so the number of elementsdisposed around the arrow 22 can also be varied.

[0044] On each turn, a player operates the spinner, and follows theinstructions associated with the element to which the arrow points whenit comes to rest. In the preferred embodiment of the regular version ofthe game, these instructions are as follows:

[0045] 1. If the spinner points to an element having the pattern 23, theplayer must take a game piece from his or her home base, and place thatgame piece on any one of that player's spaces on the board. If theplayer has no game pieces on his or her home base, the player forfeitsthe turn.

[0046] 2. If the spinner points to an element having the pattern 24, theplayer must take a game piece from one of that player's spaces on theboard, and return it to his or her home base. If the player has no gamepieces on his or her spaces on the board, the player forfeits the turn.

[0047] 3. If the spinner points to an element having the pattern 25, theplayer must take a game piece from another player's space on the board,or from another player's home base, and put the piece on any of his orher own spaces on the board.

[0048] 4. If the spinner points to an element having the pattern 26, theplayer must take a game piece from one of his or her own spaces on theboard, or from the player's home base, and must place it on an emptycoded space on the board belonging to any other player.

[0049] 5. If the spinner points to a black element 27, the player maychoose to perform any of the four actions described above.

[0050] The game apparatus may include a card (not shown), whichsummarizes the above instructions, to be used for reference by eachplayer. Such cards may also be provided adjacent to the board.Alternatively, the instructions on the card may be reproduced directlyon the board. Any or all of the above techniques can be used to remindthe players of the meaning of each symbol shown on the spinner.

[0051] In all of the above cases, the player may not take the actionindicated unless such action is otherwise permissible. For example, if aplayer is directed to remove a game piece from the board and place it onhis or her home base, the player may not do so unless he or she has atleast one game piece on the board. If a player is directed to performany action that is impossible, the player forfeits the turn.

[0052] The game therefore comprises the repeated placement, removal,and/or re-positioning of game pieces, according to the directionsobtained by players by operating the spinner.

[0053] A player who is entitled to place a game piece on the board maydo so only on one of his or her own spaces. A player may not have anygame pieces on spaces belonging to another player. Exceptions to theforegoing occur in advanced play, described later, or in team play (inwhich case the spaces belonging to a player really belong to a team).

[0054] It is not permissible to have more than one game piece on thesame space. When a player must place a piece on the board, he or shemust do so on an empty space. Thus, there will be, at most, one gamepiece on any one space.

[0055] As indicated above, a player may move only one piece per turn.When the player's hand is no longer touching the game piece being moved,that player's turn is deemed completed.

[0056]FIG. 3 shows a hypothetical game position wherein some of the gamepieces have been moved from the home bases, and placed on coded spaceson the board. FIG. 4 shows a hypothetical game position in which oneplayer has won the game by placing game pieces on all of his or hercoded spaces.

[0057] The above-described game can be won by developing variousstrategies. Although the instructions received by each player aredetermined by chance, i.e. by operating the spinner, the rules allow aconsiderable amount of choice to the player. For example, a player whoobtains an instruction to take a game piece from another player mustdecide from whom to take, and a player who is directed to give a gamepiece to another must decide to whom to give. The player who obtainsblack element 27 may of course decide to follow any of the possibleinstructions, and that player's decision is a strategic decision thatmay determine the outcome of the game.

[0058] The game as described above can be made subject to a time limit.In one embodiment, the time limit could be 20 minutes, which is normallylong enough to allow a player to win. In a shorter version, the timelimit can be 10 minutes, and the winner is the player who puts down themost game pieces on as many of his or her spaces as possible, withinthis time limit. The players may elect to have shorter or longer timelimits, if desired.

[0059] In still another embodiment, one controls the length of the gamenot by setting a definite time limit, but rather by using a differentnumber of game pieces. For example, instead of 16 game pieces per player(or team), there could be a smaller number, such as six or twelve. Inthe case of six pieces, for example, the winner would be the firstplayer (or team) to place all six pieces on spaces on the board. Ofcourse, the smaller the number of game pieces, the less time required toplace the pieces on the board.

[0060] In the preferred embodiment, the game is played as a tournamentcomprising three or more games. The winner of the tournament can be theone who wins the largest number of games, or the winner can be the onewho wins a predetermined plurality (such as two-thirds orthree-quarters) of the games.

[0061] The advanced version of the game is played as follows.

[0062] As noted above, the advanced version uses game pieces that arecoded to correspond to the players. Thus, each player has a set of gamepieces that are clearly associated with that player. The object of thegame is to be the first player to place and keep all of his or her gamepieces on all of his or her own coded spaces on the board.

[0063] Except as stated otherwise, below, the advanced version is playedin the same manner as the regular version.

[0064] The directions dictated by the spinner, in the advanced version,are not all the same as those of the regular version. The directions forthe advanced version are as follows:

[0065] 1. If the spinner points to an element having the pattern 23, theplayer must take a game piece from his or her home base, and place thatgame piece on any one of that player's spaces on the board. If theplayer has no game pieces on his or her home base, the player forfeitsthe turn. The above is similar to the regular version. But sometimes,during advanced play, game pieces belonging to other players are presenton a player's home base. It this happens, and the player has no gamepieces of his or her own, on his or her own home base, the player stillforfeits a turn. A player may not move game pieces belonging to others,using this instruction.

[0066] 2. If the spinner points to an element having the pattern 24, theplayer must take a game piece from one of that player's spaces on theboard, and return it to his or her home base. If the player has no gamepieces on his or her spaces on the board, the player forfeits the turn.

[0067] 3. If the spinner points to an element having the pattern 25, theplayer must take a game piece from a another player's coded space, orfrom another player's home base, if the other player has no game pieceson spaces on the board, and put the piece on the first player's homebase. There are two additional rules associated with this instruction:

[0068] a. If the player has a game piece that is on a home base or acoded space belonging to another player, then the first player may takethat game piece back, and place it either on the first player's codedspace or on the first player's home base.

[0069] b. A player may not take a game piece from a coded space ofanother, and use it to block still another player by placing it on thecoded space of the latter player. This action may be taken only with awild spin, described below.

[0070] 4. If the spinner points to an element having the pattern 26, theplayer must take a game piece from one of his or her own spaces on theboard, or from the player's home base, and must place it on the homebase belonging to any other player. If a player has game pieces on hisor her home base, which pieces belong to other players, the first playermay give one of these game pieces back to the player who owns the gamepiece, by placing the piece on a coded space or the home base of theother player.

[0071] 5. If the spinner points to a black element 27, the player maychoose to perform any of the four actions described above. The playerwho obtains this instruction also has the following special options:

[0072] a. The player may take a game piece from anywhere on the board,whether from any coded space or any home base, belonging to any player,and may place it anywhere else, i.e. on any coded space or any home baseof any player.

[0073] b. The player may take a game piece from the player's own codedspace or home base, and may place it on any other coded space, belongingto another player, so as to block the other player. Blocking the otherplayer means that the other player may not place a game piece on thatspace, because it is occupied.

[0074] c. The player may move a game piece from any other player's codedspace, and place it on yet another player's coded space, to block thelatter player.

[0075] There are various alternatives to the games described above. Asnoted above, one alternative is to replace individual players with teamsof players. Each single player could be replaced with a team having asmany as four players. Team play may be used in either the regular gameor the advanced game.

[0076] Another alternative is to allow cooperation between pairs ofplayers or teams. For example, team play can be allowed between oppositeor adjacent partners, if agreed upon before the game starts, and theteams can then compete against other teams. The teams may even formalliances with other teams, to enhance the competitiveness of the game.As is true for the number of single players, the minimum number of teamsis two, and the preferred maximum number of teams is four. Preferably,the maximum number of players on a team is four.

[0077] In team play, one member can be responsible for moving the gamepieces, and another player can be responsible for planning strategiesfor the team, and another can be responsible for observing the strategyof the other teams.

[0078] In the embodiment with alliances between teams or players, thegame can be played in the same way, except that the optimal strategieswill be different, because a first player or team may take action thathelps another player or team that is allied with the first. Conversely,any members of the alliance may take action to block a non-member of thealliance. The first player or team to fill all of his or her or itscoded spaces is still the winner, but if players or teams are allied,all members of the alliance are deemed winners when one member has won.

[0079] Once the players select teams, they may not switch partners inthe middle of a game.

[0080] The invention can also be practiced with a smaller peg boardversion, for use by persons who are traveling. This version is the sameas the larger board game, but would use colored pegs, and one or moredice, or modified dice (instead of a spinner) on a small, multi-coloredpeg board.

[0081] In the embodiment shown in the figures, there are four sets ofsixteen coded spaces on the board. Other arrangements could be devised,with different numbers of spaces, within the scope of the invention.

[0082] The game of the present invention can be modified in many furtherways. As noted earlier, the coded spaces may be coded in many differentways. The invention is not limited by the shape of the game pieces; anypieces that will fit on the coded spaces will be satisfactory for use inthis game. The rules associated with each result of a spin can bechanged somewhat, within the scope of the invention. These and othersimilar modifications should be considered within the spirit and scopeof the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of playing a game, comprising: a)providing a playing area having a plurality of coded spaces and aplurality of home bases, and providing a plurality of game pieces, b)associating players with the home bases, and with a plurality of codedspaces bearing indicia corresponding to indicia on said home bases, c)randomly assigning an instruction to each player, wherein saidinstruction governs acquisition and placement of game pieces, and d)determining a winner based on which player is first to place game pieceson all of said coded spaces which are associated with that player's homebase.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein there are five possibleinstructions obtainable in step (c), i) wherein a first instructioncomprises requiring a player to take a game piece from the player's homebase, and to place said game piece on a coded space, on the board,belonging to that player, ii) wherein a second instruction comprisesrequiring a player to remove a game piece from one of that player'scoded spaces, and to place said game piece in that player's home base,iii) wherein a third instruction comprises requiring a player to take agame piece from a coded space belonging to another player, or from ahome base of another player, and to place said game piece on a codedspace belonging to the first player, iv) wherein a fourth instructioncomprises requiring a player to remove a game piece from a coded spacebelonging to the player, or from that player's home base, and to givesaid game piece to another player by placing said game piece on a codedspace belonging to that player, and v) wherein a fifth instructioncomprises requiring a player to choose from among the instructionslisted above, and to follow such instruction.
 3. The method of claim 2,wherein the coded spaces are selected to have color codes.
 4. The methodof claim 2, wherein the coded spaces are selected to have patterns.
 5. Amethod of playing a game, comprising: a) providing a playing area havinga plurality of coded spaces and a plurality of home bases, the codedspaces and home bases having identifying indicia, and providing aplurality of game pieces having indicia corresponding to those of saidcoded spaces and home bases, b) associating players with the home bases,and with a plurality of coded spaces bearing indicia corresponding toindicia on said home bases, c) randomly assigning an instruction to eachplayer, wherein said instruction governs acquisition and placement ofgame pieces, and d) determining a winner based on which player is firstto place game pieces on all of said coded spaces which are associatedwith that player's home base.
 6. The method of claim 5, wherein thedirecting step comprises determining an instruction, according tooperation of a random device, wherein there are five possibleinstructions, i) wherein a first instruction comprises requiring aplayer to take a game piece from the player's home base, and to placesaid game piece on a coded space, on the board, belonging to thatplayer, ii) wherein a second instruction comprises requiring a player toremove a game piece from one of that player's coded spaces, and to placesaid game piece in that player's home base, iii) wherein a thirdinstruction comprises requiring a player to take a game piece from acoded space belonging to another player, or from a home base of anotherplayer, and to place said game piece on a coded space belonging to thefirst player, iv) wherein a fourth instruction comprises requiring aplayer to remove a game piece from a coded space belonging to theplayer, or from that player's home base, and to give said game piece toanother player by placing said game piece on a home base belonging tothat player, and v) wherein a fifth instruction comprises requiring aplayer to choose from among the instructions listed above, and to followsuch instruction.
 7. The method of claim 6, wherein the fifthinstruction also comprises allowing a player to take a game piece fromany coded space or home base on the board and place it on any othercoded space or home base on the board.
 8. The method of claim 7, whereinthe fifth instruction also comprises allowing a player to take a gamepiece from the player's coded space or home base and to place the gamepiece on a coded space belonging to another player.
 9. The method ofclaim 7, wherein the fifth instruction also comprises allowing a playerto move a game piece from a coded space of another player, to a codedspace of yet another player.
 10. The method of claim 6, wherein thecoded spaces are selected to include color codes.
 11. The method ofclaim 6, wherein the coded spaces are selected to have pattern codes.12. A method of playing a game comprising directing a plurality ofplayers to place game pieces on, and to remove game pieces from, codedspaces on a board, the coded spaces being associated with differentplayers, and determining a winner based on the first player to placegame pieces on all of his or her own coded spaces.
 13. A method ofplaying a game, comprising: a) providing a playing area having aplurality of coded spaces and a plurality of home bases, and providing aplurality of game pieces, wherein the coded spaces, home bases, and gamepieces, bear indicia, such that each home base is associated with aplurality of coded spaces and a plurality of game pieces having the sameindicia, b) associating each player with a home base and with the codedspaces and game pieces bearing indicia identical to those of the homebase, c) randomly assigning an instruction to each player, wherein saidinstruction governs acquisition and placement of game pieces, and d)determining a winner based on which player is first to place his or hergame pieces on all of said coded spaces which are associated with thatplayer's home base.
 14. The method of claim 13, wherein step (c)comprises assigning an instruction from among five possibleinstructions, i) wherein a first instruction comprises requiring aplayer to take a game piece from the player's home base, and to placesaid game piece on a coded space, on the board, belonging to thatplayer, ii) wherein a second instruction comprises requiring a player toremove a game piece from one of that player's coded spaces, and to placesaid game piece in that player's home base, iii) wherein a thirdinstruction comprises requiring a player to take a game piece from acoded space belonging to another player, or from a home base of anotherplayer, and to place said game piece on a home base belonging to thefirst player, iv) wherein a fourth instruction comprises requiring aplayer to remove a game piece from a coded space belonging to theplayer, or from that player's home base, and to give said game piece toanother player by placing said game piece on a home base belonging tothat player, and v) wherein a fifth instruction comprises requiring aplayer to choose from among the instructions listed above, and to followsuch instruction.
 15. Apparatus for playing a board game, comprising: a)a game board defining a plurality of coded spaces, the game board alsohaving a plurality of home bases, b) a plurality of game pieces, and c)means for determining one of a plurality of instructions at random. 16.The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the coded spaces are color-coded. 17.The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the coded spaces are coded withpatterns.
 18. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the determining meanscomprises a spinner.
 19. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the gamepieces are all substantially identical.
 20. The apparatus of claim 15,wherein the home bases have mutually distinct codes, said codescorresponding with codes of said coded spaces, and.
 21. The apparatus ofclaim 20, wherein the game pieces have indicia corresponding to saidcodes, wherein each home base is associated with a plurality of gamepieces having indicia matching the code on said each home base.
 22. Theapparatus of claim 15, wherein said plurality of instructions includesfive possible instructions, i) wherein a first instruction comprisesrequiring a player to take a game piece from the player's home base, andto place said game piece on a coded space, on the board, belonging tothat player, ii) wherein a second instruction comprises requiring aplayer to remove a game piece from one of that player's coded spaces,and to place said game piece in that player's home base, iii) wherein athird instruction comprises requiring a player to take a game piece froma coded space belonging to another player, or from a home base ofanother player, and to place said game piece on a coded space belongingto the first player, iv) wherein a fourth instruction comprisesrequiring a player to remove a game piece from a coded space belongingto the player, or from that player's home base, and to give said gamepiece to another player by placing said game piece on a coded spacebelonging to that player, and v) wherein a fifth instruction comprisesrequiring a player to choose from among the instructions listed above,and to follow such instruction.
 23. The apparatus of claim 15, whereinsaid plurality of instructions includes five possible instructions, i)wherein a first instruction comprises requiring a player to take a gamepiece from the player's home base, and to place said game piece on acoded space, on the board, belonging to that player, ii) wherein asecond instruction comprises requiring a player to remove a game piecefrom one of that player's coded spaces, and to place said game piece inthat player's home base, iii) wherein a third instruction comprisesrequiring a player to take a game piece from a coded space belonging toanother player, or from a home base of another player, and to place saidgame piece on a home base belonging to the first player, iv) wherein afourth instruction comprises requiring a player to remove a game piecefrom a coded space belonging to the player, or from that player's homebase, and to give said game piece to another player by placing said gamepiece on a home base belonging to that player, and v) wherein a fifthinstruction comprises requiring a player to choose from among theinstructions listed above, and to follow such instruction.
 24. Apparatusfor playing a board game, comprising: a) a game board defining aplurality of coded spaces, the game board also having a plurality ofhome bases, the home bases having mutually distinct codes correspondingto codes of said coded spaces, b) a plurality of substantially identicalgame pieces, and c) a spinner for determining one of a plurality ofinstructions at random, wherein said plurality of instructions includesat least the following five possible instructions, i) wherein a firstinstruction comprises requiring a player to take a game piece from theplayer's home base, and to place said game piece on a coded space, onthe board, belonging to that player, ii) wherein a second instructioncomprises requiring a player to remove a game piece from one of thatplayer's coded spaces, and to place said game piece in that player'shome base, iii) wherein a third instruction comprises requiring a playerto take a game piece from a coded space belonging to another player, orfrom a home base of another player, and to place said game piece on acoded space belonging to the first player, iv) wherein a fourthinstruction comprises requiring a player to remove a game piece from acoded space belonging to the player, or from that player's home base,and to give said game piece to another player by placing said game pieceon a coded space belonging to that player, and v) wherein a fifthinstruction comprises requiring a player to choose from among theinstructions listed above, and to follow such instruction.
 25. Apparatusfor playing a board game, comprising: a) a game board defining aplurality of coded spaces, the game board also having a plurality ofhome bases, the home bases having mutually distinct codes correspondingto codes of said coded spaces, b) a plurality of game pieces, the gamepieces having indicia which correspond to said codes, wherein each homebase is associated with a plurality of game pieces having correspondingindicia, and c) a spinner for determining one of a plurality ofinstructions at random, wherein said plurality of instructions includesat least the following five possible instructions, i) wherein a firstinstruction comprises requiring a player to take a game piece from theplayer's home base, and to place said game piece on a coded space, onthe board, belonging to that player, ii) wherein a second instructioncomprises requiring a player to remove a game piece from one of thatplayer's coded spaces, and to place said game piece in that player'shome base, iii) wherein a third instruction comprises requiring a playerto take a game piece from a coded space belonging to another player, orfrom a home base of another player, and to place said game piece on ahome base belonging to the first player, iv) wherein a fourthinstruction comprises requiring a player to remove a game piece from acoded space belonging to the player, or from that player's home base,and to give said game piece to another player by placing said game pieceon a home base belonging to that player, and v) wherein a fifthinstruction comprises requiring a player to choose from among theinstructions listed above, and to follow such instruction.